Searching For Jeremy Bolt Chapter Seven
"Jeremy let's sit down on the sofa, sweetheart. Our breakfast won't be here for a few more minutes." Candy was upset.
Jeremy followed Candy to the sofa, and they sat down. Candy held her fiancé's hand.
"Darling, do you remember what happened day before yesterday? It was something very sad." Candy squeezed his hand.
"Sure, I remember, Candy. That was the day that Jason left Seattle. He was so angry at me because I didn't get the contract in San Francisco. He yelled and yelled at me. He said he should have listened to Stempel when he said I couldn't get the contract." Jeremy spoke somberly.
"No, Jeremy, that's not what happened. Jeremy, Jason died two days ago. You remember, don't you? We were at the clinic. When Doc Adams said your brother was gone, you ran out and I ran out behind you." Candy spoke very gently.
Jeremy got up and walked to the middle of the room. He stood still with his hands on his hips for a minute. Then he turned to face his fiancée.
"Candy! That's not what happened! Don't you think I would remember if Jason died? I'd have to be crazy to forget something like that! You had a nightmare, Miss Candy Pruitt!" Jeremy exclaimed.
Tears rolled down Candy's face. She left the sofa and went to Jeremy.
As she enfolded him in her arms, she whispered, "Everything will be alright, Jeremy, everything will be alright. I love you."
Jeremy hugged her as well. "I love you too. You're right. Everything will be alright when I find Jason."
The bellhop brought their breakfast into the room and prepared the table for them. Jeremy gave him a generous tip as he was leaving.
While they were eating, Jeremy told Candy some other things that Jason said before he left town.
"Jason said that I didn't get the Harmon contract because of my stuttering, He also said that he probably should have put me in an asylum when I was a kid. Jason said it would have made his life a lot easier. He said he could have married Penny and had a family of his own instead of playing nursemaid to the backward little Bolt boy all of his life." Jeremy put down his fork and stared at his plate.
The youngest Bolt put his face on the table and cried. "I'm sorry I ruined Jason's life. Maybe I should leave him alone and let him have a life without me. But I want to apologize and tell him how much I love him. He left before I could do that. If I can just do that then I will leave him alone forever so that he can be happy."
Candy's heart was breaking. "Jeremy, Jason didn't tell you those things you just said. He did not call you names, and he did not consider himself your nursemaid. He loved you and Joshua with all of his heart, and he was proud of both of you."
Jeremy raised his head and looked at her. "Candy, I know what Jason told me. It's kind of you to try to make me feel better. But I remember what he said."
"Let's stay here and rest today, darling. You can look for Jason tomorrow. We have been so busy the past few days, I could use some rest too. Does that sound okay?" She asked.
"Sure, sweetheart, we can rest if you want to. One day won't make much difference. In fact, I think I will go back to bed now. Oh, first, I'll push the cart out in the hall, if you're finished." Jeremy agreed.
"Yes, I'm finished. Thank you, sweetheart." Candy replied.
Jeremy put the breakfast cart in the hall. He and Candy went back to bed. It was chilly and cuddling together felt good.
They slept peacefully for a few hours. Suddenly, Jeremy woke up with an awful headache.
"Candy! Help me, please. My head is hurting badly. Ouch! It hurts to move my head." He whimpered.
Candy sat up immediately. "Oh, Jeremy! I wonder what has caused your headache! You haven't hit your head recently, have you? Did someone hit you at that saloon yesterday? "
"No, I haven't hit my head and no I didn't get struck at the saloon yesterday." He answered.
"Let me get you a warm cloth for your head, sweetheart. I'm sorry you feel so terrible, Jeremy." Candy got out of bed and went to the washroom.
She returned in a few minutes with some warm cloths. Candy sat on the side of the bed. She held one of the cloths on Jeremy's head.
After a few minutes, He said, "Candy, I need to go to a doctor. My head is getting worse instead of better."
Candy was alarmed. Jeremy hated going to the doctor and usually did all he could to avoid it. His wanting to see a doctor meant he was feeling horrible.
"Of course, sweetheart. Let me get dressed quickly and I will go downstairs to ask the manager to recommend a good doctor here." She replied.
"I will go ahead and get dressed too. We can go downstairs together." Jeremy spoke.
As soon as they got dressed, they headed downstairs. The hotel manager, Percy Brown, was glad to talk to them. He recommended Doctor Jarred Harper. Mr. Brown said he was an excellent physician and would be happy to help Jeremy.
Doctor Harper's office was just a few blocks from the hotel. Jeremy and Candy left on their way to his office right after talking to Mr. Brown.
Doctor Harper was able to see Jeremy as soon as he and Candy arrived at his office. When the doctor examined Jeremy's neck, he found where a small area of his hair had been shaved from the back of his head close to his right ear. There was a small bruise in the area. Doctor Harper explained to Jeremy and Candy what he had discovered.
"Doctor Harper, I don't know how that could have happened. I haven't been to the doctor or the barber for quite some time until coming to see you today." Jeremy explained.
"Well, Mr. Bolt, I need to ask you a personal question, are you using any type of drugs?" The doctor inquired.
Jeremy looked surprised. "No, Doctor Harper, I am not taking any medication or using drugs for any reason."
"Jeremy, maybe something happened yesterday that you aren't aware of." Candy offered. "Do you remember everything that happened at the Blue Rose Saloon?"
Jeremy thought seriously. "I remember I went to see Benjamin Wallenfang because he killed Jason and….."
"Jeremy! Do you remember that Jason died?" Candy was shocked.
"Sure, Candy. How could I forget something like that?" Jeremy stared at her.
"Well, early this morning, you had forgotten. You told me that you were here to find Jason. When I told you that your brother died two days ago, you denied it. You said that I had a nightmare." Candy replied.
"That's really strange, I mean, who forgets when their brother dies?" Jeremy said.
"What else do you remember from the saloon, Mr. Bolt?" Doctor Harper asked.
"When I went into the Blue Rose, I spoke to the bartender and asked where I could find Wallenfang. He told me to go upstairs to the third room on the right and ask for Castleberry. When I spoke to Castleberry, he told me that Wallenfang was dead. Then I heard Candy screaming my name and I ran downstairs to make sure she was alright, and we talked a minute in the saloon and then we left." Jeremy told him.
"At some point during that time, someone shaved a bit of your hair and gave you some type of injection. The shot is probably what caused your headache. It seems odd that someone would do that." Doctor Harper replied. "I had not heard that Doctor Wallenfang died."
"Doctor?" Candy was surprised.
"Oh, yes, he was a fine doctor. It's ashamed that he is gone." Doctor Harper mused.
Candy and Jeremy glanced at each other and kept silent.
"I wonder why I don't remember someone shaving my hair and giving me a shot? I remember everything else that happened." Jeremy pondered.
"I don't know, Mr. Bolt. I will give you these pills to take for your headache. Take two of them three times a day. Your headaches should end within a week. If they continue after that, please come back." Doctor Harper explained.
The doctor handed Jeremy a large bottle of pills. Jeremy looked at the bottle for a few seconds.
"Thank you, Doctor. I appreciate your help." Jeremy told him.
"You are welcome, Mr. Bolt." The doctor nodded at Candy as she and Jeremy left his office.
The young couple was talking as they walked away from the doctor's office building. They did not see Doctor Harper watching them out his window.
When Jeremy and Candy were out of view, Doctor Harper left his office and got into his carriage. He proceeded to the Blue Rose Saloon.
Doctor Harper went upstairs at the saloon. He knocked on the third door on the right.
Doctor Benjamin Wallenfang opened the door. "Oh, sister, dear, your husband has arrived."
Penelope Wallenfang Harper walked in from the adjoining bedroom. "How did it go with the little backward Bolt boy, darling?"
"It went fine. He doesn't remember drinking that concoction you gave him to knock him out and he has the most terrible headache. There is one thing though, his brother, Jason died. So, you wasted your time hypnotizing him to kill Jason Bolt."
"Oh, darn it! I was so enjoying thinking about Jason's beloved baby brother killing him and then being tormented by what he had done. Tormented perhaps to the point of being committed to an asylum." Penelope laughed wickedly.
"Hopefully those thoughts that you planted in young Mr. Bolt's mind will be torture enough." Doctor Harper replied. "Those plus the headaches could even lead to a committal."
"Yes, my darling sister, that was brilliant of you to tell the backward boy that his hero is angry at him and resents that he wasted his life taking care of him." Benjamin said.
"I agree with you, Benny! However, you are quite smart as well. Including the severe headaches as part of Jeremy's hypnosis was genius!" She cooed. "Jarred, you gave him the correct pills, didn't you?"
"Of course, my dear, they will take the edge off of the headaches to make them barely tolerable." Jarred smiled at his wife.
As Jeremy and Candy were walking back to their hotel, Candy had a lovely thought.
"Jeremy, I know you are not feeling good today and this is a seriously sad time for us, but I had an idea." She spoke softly.
"What's your idea, sweetheart?" He wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Let's go to that Chapel in the pretty little park and get married. It's close by and we are wearing our Sunday clothes. You know it's the one that you said reminded you of the mountain meadow." Candy replied.
Jeremy smiled a bit. "Yes, I remember it. Why do you want to get married today? Wouldn't you like to have a big wedding this summer?"
"Yes, I would like a big wedding, but I want us to be together now. Summer is such a long way off and we are heartbroken about Jason. And we need each other more now, don't you think?" She stroked his arm.
"Sure, Candy. It's fine with me. If you are absolutely certain that you don't want to wait for a big wedding with all the trimmings." He answered.
"Yes, Jeremy, I am absolutely certain! We can still have a fancy wedding this summer if we want too." Candy put her head on his shoulder.
The young couple stopped walking. Jeremy got down on one knee and took Candy's hand in his. "Miss Candy Pruitt, I love you with all of my heart. Will you marry me?" His piercing blue eyes were shining with tears.
Candy smiled through her tears. "Yes, Mr. Bolt, I love you more than life itself. I will be happy to be your wife."
They hurried to the little Chapel in the pretty park. There was a kind young minister there. He performed the marriage ceremony and in just a few minutes Jeremy and Candy became Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Bolt.
When they walked out of the Chapel, it was beginning to shower rain. They ran hand in hand back to their hotel.
When they hurried into the lobby, Mr. Brown called out, "Oh, Miss Pruitt, you have a telegram!"
Candy and Jeremy beamed at each other. "Mrs. Bolt, if you please, Mr. Brown!"
"Congratulations! That is wonderful!" Mr. Brown grinned.
"Thank you so much." Candy replied as she took the wire from him.
She opened it and read it immediately. It was from Joshua.
"Oh, dear God! Jeremy! Jeremy! You won't believe it!" She shouted.
Jeremy groaned. "More bad news? What's happened now?"
"No! It's not bad news, it's wonderful!" Candy answered.
"What is it?" Jeremy was puzzled.
Candy looked her husband in the eye. "Jeremy, sweetheart, Jason is alive!"
"What? How? Doc Adams said Jason was gone. I mean he's a doctor, Candy. He doesn't say that unless he is certain." Jeremy frowned.
"I know, sweetheart, but Joshua said that right after we ran out, he remembered the sternum compressions and blowing air into the mouth like they did on you last year when you got hurt at the camp. Joshua told Doctor Adams about it and he said try it. Joshua got Swede and Matthew to do it. And it worked!" Candy spoke gleefully. "Joshua said that Jason has shown significant improvement since yesterday."
Jeremy was overwhelmed with happiness. He put his arms around Candy's waist and lifted her feet off the floor whirling her around and around.
"Jason's alive! My brother is alive! Thank You, Lord!" Jeremy shouted.
"Jeremy, I am so happy!" Candy exclaimed as he placed her feet on the floor.
"Let's go home!" Jeremy replied.
Candy wrote a telegram to Joshua and gave it to Mr. Brown. The hotel manager sent one of the bellhops to the telegraph office to send the wire.
The married couple ran upstairs to their room. They packed their clothes and belongings fast.
Mr. Brown sent one of the bellhops to the livery stable to get Brownie, Buckie, and the wagon. Jeremy and Candy were surprised to see their horses and their vehicle outside the hotel door. Jeremy gave Mr. Brown and the bellhop generous tips.
Soon the newlyweds were on their way home to Seattle. Fortunately, the rain shower had stopped, and the sun was shining.
It was well past ten that night when the Bolt couple arrived in Seattle. Jeremy drove the wagon straight to the clinic. He and Candy jumped out and ran inside.
When they walked into Jason's room, he was awake and waiting for them. Jeremy sat down on the side of the bed. The two brothers hugged.
"Oh, my God, Jason! I am so happy! I lost my mind when I thought you were gone!" Jeremy squalled.
Jason cried with Jeremy. "I have been worried about you, brother."
Joshua walked to the bed. "Hey, can I get in on the hugging? I'm already crying!"
Jason and Jeremy each held an arm out to their blond brother. All three Bolts hugged and wept.
When their tears ended and the I love you's were exchanged, Joshua and Jeremy stood up from the bed.
"Thank you, Miss Pruitt for going with Jeremy and helping him during these awful few days." Jason spoke.
Candy proudly extended her left hand so Jason could see it. "You mean Mrs. Bolt."
The room erupted in shouting and laughter. Jason and Joshua beamed at their little brother.
"Candy, come here please so I can kiss the bride." Jason requested.
She moved quickly across the room to him. "I love Jeremy with my whole heart. I will take good care of him."
"I know you will, and he will take good care of you as well." Jason replied and then he kissed her cheek.
"Yes, he will. I am a blessed woman." She squeezed Jason's hand.
Joshua gave Jeremy a huge hug and slapped him on the back. "Congratulations, brother!"
"Thank you, Josh! When are you gonna let Biddie make an honest man outta you?" Jeremy grinned.
"Oh, well, uh" Joshua replied.
"Alright, everyone! It's time to say good night. Jason has got to go to sleep. He is still recovering." Doctor Wright spoke.
Joshua and Biddie stayed at the clinic with Jason. Everyone else left. Jeremy and Candy went to Lottie's to get a room until they decided where they wanted to live.
The next two weeks went well. Jason continued to improve. Jeremy had continued having severe headaches. The pills did not help much. Candy encouraged him to talk to Doctor Wright, but he had not done so.
On Wednesday night, Jeremy was going to watch over Jason. Candy wasn't feeling well so she was sleeping at Lottie's.
Jeremy went into his brother's room at the clinic about ten o'clock.
"Hi, Josh. How is Jason?" The youngest brother asked.
"Hey, Jeremy. He's doing okay. He ate a little of Lottie's stew for supper. He really enjoyed it. He was sick of chicken broth. Jason has been asleep for almost two hours. He will probably sleep most of the night." Joshua answered.
"Okay, Josh. I'm glad Jason is doing so good. See you in the morning." Jeremy patted him on the back.
"Alright, brother. See you." Joshua said as he left the room.
Jeremy sat in the chair close to the bed. He looked at his oldest brother sleeping peacefully.
Jeremy rubbed his forehead with his hand wishing that his headache would go away. He tried to focus on pleasant thoughts and forget about his pain. I have a beautiful wife who loves me, and my brother will be well before we know it.
Jeremy looked out the window in the room. He could see lots of stars in the sky. Their mother always liked to gaze at the stars at night. Jeremy began humming Amazing Grace. He chuckled softly to himself about how he always thought of the dear old hymn when he thought of his mother.
Soon the youngest Bolt drifted off to sleep. Then suddenly Jeremy was awake. Had Jason yelled at him? He could have sworn that Jason shouted at him.
Yes, there it was again. You ruined my life, you backward little Bolt boy! You and your stuttering! You and your sensitive nature! I could have had a life of my own if I wasn't saddled with you! Why didn't I listen to Penny and put you in the asylum? I could have been happy! You ruined my life, J-J-Jeremy!
Jeremy held his hands tightly over his ears. He could still hear Jason shouting at him, calling him names, and mocking him. His head was pounding in horrible pain from the headache. The shouting and the pounding formed a rhythm. Shouting, pounding, shouting, pounding, LOUDER, shouting, pounding, shouting, pounding, LOUDER!
Jeremy couldn't stand anymore! He grabbed a pillow and held it firmly over Jason's face. "Shut up! Shut up! Leave me alone! Shut up!" Jeremy screamed.
Jason squirmed and tried to push the pillow away from his face. However, he was still too weak from the bullet wound and the surgery. Jeremy's anger and his pain were giving him an adrenaline rush.
"Shut up! Shut up!" Jeremy kept screaming as he held down the pillow.
As Jason stopped squirming, Joshua ran into the room. He snatched Jeremy by his shirt collar and the seat of his pants and slung him across the room.
While Jeremy crashed into some chairs, Joshua removed the pillow from Jason's face. Jason gasped for air. He was alright.
"Jeremy! What the hell were you doing? Why were you trying to kill Jason?" Joshua shouted.
Jeremy got up from the floor. He looked at Jason and then he looked at Joshua.
"I don't know, Josh! I swear, I don't know!" Jeremy sat down in the chair behind him. He buried his face in his hands and squalled.
TBC